Rotary engine.



A. E. NIUELLER.

ROARY ENGINE.

AP*PLICAT|0N FILED UN-E12. 1916. Lw., Patented May 15, 41917.

l 3 SHEETS-SHEET i.

AL E. MUELLER.

ROTARY ENGINE'.y

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I2, 1916.

Patent@ May15,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. E. MUELLER. ROTARY ENGINE. APPLxcATlou FILED JUNE 12. |916.

1,225,844. Patented My15,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3Q Cri AUGUST E. MUELLEBI, OF CHICAGG, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR 017' ONE-THERE) TO THOMAS J'. HRUBY AND ONE-THIRD TO JOHN O. I-IRUBY, JR., BOTH OF CHICAGU, ILLINOS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed June 12, 1916.

To @ZZ 'wlw/m t 11mg/ concern Be it known that I, i-uieus'r E. MUrLLnii, a citizen of Argentina, South America, and a resident of Chicago, .in the county of @ook and State of Illinois. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tiiotary lingines; and l do hereby declare that the following' is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being' had to the accompanying' drawings., and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

rhis invention relates to improvements in rotary engines and, as herein shown, is designed more speciically for use as a steam or compressed air engine.

Among the objects of the invention is to simplify and improve rotary engines, and the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of the parts shown in the drawings and described in the specification and is pointed out in the appended claims.

its shown in the drawings:-

Figure l is a side elevation of a rotary engine embodying' my invention.

Fig'. '2 is a plan view thereof with the parts broken away, i

Fig'. 3 is a side elevation of the rotor and one-half of the stator or casing'.

Fig'. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig'. 1.

Fig'. 5 is a side elevation of the rotor removed from the other parts.

Fig'. G is a view similar to Fig'. 3, showing' a modification.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 7 7 of Fig'. 6.

First, referring' to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 10 (lesignates the stator or casing of the engine which is made of two like parts 11, l1 that are fastened together by bolts 12 or other suitable fastening' means, a packing 13 being' interposed between the faces of said casing' par's to provide a fluid-tight joint. 15 designates as a whole the rotor within said casing. 1t comprises a central annular portion 16 having' a smooth periphery to lit and rotate within an annular recessed portion 17 of the casing', and two annular series of oppositely directed blades 19, 19 which fit within annular steam chambers 20, 2O of the casing' or stator. The said blades 19 preferably, and as herein shown, are triangular in longitudinal section, being' widest at their Specification of Letters Patent.

iatented May 15, 1917.

Serial No. 103,271.

b ases and having fiat faces 21 and oppositely disposed oblique faces 22. Preferably, and as herein shown, the outer ends of said blades are convexly curved to ht the concave ends 23 of the chambers Q0, while the ra lially inner and outer sides thereof are parallel to cach other and to the axis of rotation of the rotor to conform to the concentric inner and outer walls of the steam chambers. designates a shaft U-shaped packing' members 31 may be employed, adapted to fit wit-hin grooves formed in the inner and outer and end faces of said blades. rhe said packing' members 31 are made of material possessing' some resiliency so that the arms thereof tend to spread outwardly for contact with the radially inner and outer walls of the chambers. in order to press the packing' members 31 against the lateral concave end walls 23 of the chambers 20, I may provide springs 33 which are inserted in suitable sockets in the rotor and bear against the ends of the flishaped packing` members in the manner most clearly shown in Fig'. 4.

Each side of the casing or stator is provided, at its bottom as herein shownwith an exhaust port 40, and said ports may connected by pipes 41, 41 to a common eX- haust pipe 42. Each side of the stator casing` is also provided with two inlet ports 43. 44.v through one of which steam is admitted to drive the rotor forwardly and through the other of which steam is admitted to reverse the engine or drive the rotor rearwardly. Said ports 43 may be connected by pipes 45 to a common supply pit e 4G equipped with a valve 47. The ports 44 may be likewise connected by pipes 48 to a common valved feed pipe 49. The said casing' parts are also provided with supplemental inlet ports 50 and supplemental outlet ports 51, the former connected by branches 52 to a valved supply pipe 53, and the latter connected by branches 5a to an open exhaust pipe 55.

The said inlet ports are disposed tangentlally to the path of rotation of the circular series of blades so that the motive fluid, entering the cylinder or casing through said ports, strikes the blades at an effective angle to produce rotation of the rotor. rllhe parts are so arranged that the moti-.e fluid entering through the inlet ports #f3 and 51 strikes the fiat faces 21 of the blades to drive the rotor in a forward direction, while the motive fluid wiich passes into the casing through the reverse ports -et-l strikes the oblique faces of the blades. The blaues are made wide at their bases to produce the triangular shape shown in order to partially fill the steam chambers and thereby economize in the use of the motive fluid, and also to strengthen the blades.

The provision of inlet and exhaust ports at both sides of the casing advantageous, inasmuch as the pressure of th-e motive fluid is equalized on both sices of the rotor, so that thereby side 'thrust of the rotor against its bearings in the casing and con! sequent retarding friction is avoided.

'When operating the engine to produce moderate power and when driving it in a forward direction, the motive fluidl is delivered to the cylinder or casing through the inlet ports and is exhausted there` from through the outlet ports 40. 1f greater power be required the valve of the pipe 53 is opened to admit the motive fluid through the inlet ports 51 on the side of the axis of the rotor opposite to the other inlet ports, and the motive fluid is exhausted through the outlet ports 50. l/Vith this construction pow r is applied to the rotor on opposite sides of its turning axis and thereby increases the power output of the engine.

In order to prevent the rotor from being driven baclrwar'dly in the event that the load tends to drive the motor, as, for instance, when a vehicle driven by the motor is climbing a hill and the power of the engine momentarily fails to drive the vehicle, l may provide a brake device such as is shown in Figs. 3 and et and which is made as follows: The walls of the recesses 17 of the casing or cylinder are provided with notches (5() in which are seated roller elements 61. Said notches 60 have oblique or inclined walls which merge at one end into the inner surfaces of the recesses. The other ends of the notches are enlarged be yond the diameter of the roller elements 61. Springs 62 tend to press the roller ele ments toward the inclined walls of the notches. They are adapted to be held away from said inclined walls, however, against the action of the springs 62, by means of an eccentric G3 which is rotatively mounted in the casing wall and is adapted to bear against rods "li which in turn bear against said roller elements.4 rffhe construction and arrangement is such that when the eccentric, actuated by a handle 66, is swung to one limit of its movement, it acts, through one of the rods (54.-, to force the corresponding roller element into the larger part of the notch (BO against the action of one of the springs, while permitting the other spring G2 to force t1 e other roller element against the inclined wall of the notch. ln the adjustment shown in 3 the rotor is free to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, but will be locked from rotation in the oppo site direction by the left-hand roller element 61. The reverse adjustment of said eccentric will produce a reversal of the conditions of rotation.

ln the construction heretofore described, it has been assumed that the power is taken from the extended end of the shaft 25 to drive a single machine or machine element. ln the use of the engine to drive two machine elements at differential speeds, as, for instance,V wien applied to the axle of a vehicle to drive the wheels thereof, which, due to steering movements, are required to be differentially driven', l may embody between engine case or cylinder and its driving axle a differential driving gear mechanism, such as is shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The engine shown in said latter figures is in other respects the same as the construction already described with the exception of its connection to the driving shaft. ln the latter construction the driving shaft is made of two parts or members 70, 70, on the inner ends of which are mounted beveled gear wheels 71, 71 which mesh with idler conical pinions 72 that are rotatively mounted in any suitable manner on shafts 73 carried by the rotor frame or body. `With this construction the shafts .70 are driven at equal speeds when the vehicle is traveling in a direct line and are driven at differential speeds when the vehicle is rounding a curve.

lt will be understood that the marginal portion of the body 1G of the rotor fits the annular and side walls 17, 17, respectively, sufficiently close, and that the lateral faces of the central portion of said body fits sufficiently close upon the flat faces 28 of the casing members so as to provide a practically effective barrier against the passage of steam or other motive fluid from one side of the engine to the other. lt will also be understood that suitable packing may be employed between said bearing portions if found necessary or desirable.

1 claini as my invention 1. A rotary engine comprising a casing Vprovided with a central unobstructed annular space and with laterally vopposed steam chambers; a rotor comprising a disklike body in said central space and provided with two annular series of oppositely directed blades which extend into said steam chambers; inlet ports arranged to admit motive Huid simultaneously to said chambers at both sides of the rotor for impact withv the blades and to balance pressure on opposite sides of the rotor, and exhaust ports communicating also with said steam chambers.

2. A rotary engine comprising a casing lormed with a central unobstructed space to receive the body ot a rotor and provided with laterally opposed annular steam chambers; a rotor rotatively mounted in said central space .by means which divides or separates said steam chambers and provided with two annular series ot oppositely directed blades which extend into said steam chambers, with means to aii'ord fluid-tight joints between the edges of the blades and the walls ot the steam chambers; inlet ports opening` into said steam chambers at both sides ot the rotor, and open exhaust ports leading from said steam chambers.

3. A rotary engine comprising a casing termed with a central unobstructed space to receive the body of a rotor and provided with lateral annular steam chambers; a rotor rotatively mounted in said central space by means which divides or separates said steam chambers and provided with two annular series ot oppositely directed blades which extend into said steam chambers, with means to afford Huid-tight joints between the edges ot the blades and the walls ot the steam chambers; inlet ports leading into said steam chambers at both sides of the rotor and disposed in a plane at one side ot the axis ot rotation thereof; other inlet ports leading to said steam chamber at both sides of the stator and disposed in planes at the other side of the axis of rotation of the rotor, and open exhaust ports in planes on opposite sides of said axis oiB rotation and leading from said steam chambers.

d. A rotary engine comprising a casing termed with laterally separated annular steam chambers; a rotor therein to separate said steam chambers and provide( with ti'o annular series of oppositely directed blades and two sets ot' inlet ports leading to the steam chambers on respective opposite sides of the axis of rotation ot the rotor, and outlet ports leading from said steam chambers.

5. A rotary engine comprising a casing provided with laterally spacel steam chambers; a rotor in said casing constituting a iiuid barrier between said steam chambers and provided with oppositely directed blades which extend into said steam chambers; inlet ports leading to the steam chambers on respective opposite sides ot the axis ot rotation thereof, and exhaust ports arranged between the inlet ports to serve as a common exhaust tor motive tiuid admitted to said steam chambers through said inlet ports, whereby the engine may be driven in either otl two opposite directions.

G. A rotary engine comprising a casing provided with laterally spaced steam chambers; a rotor in said casing constituting a fluid barrier between said steam chambers; inlet ports leading to the steam chambers on opposite sides of the axis ot rotation thereof, with exhaust ports arranged between the inlet ports to serve as a common exhaust tor motive fluid admitted to said steam chambers through the inlet ports, whereby the engine may be driven in either ot two opposite directions, and supplemental inlet and exhaust ports on the side of the axis of rotation of the rotor remote from said main inlet and exhaust ports.

7. A rotary engine comprising a casing provided with an annular steam chamber; a rotor therein mounted for substantially fluid-tight joints with the casing and provided with laterally directed blades which extend into the steam chamber; means affording fluid-tight joints between said blades and the walls of the steam chamber, and inlet and exhaust ports for said steam chambers. A

S. A rotary engine comprising a casing provided with an annular steam chamber; a rotor therein mounted for substantially fluid-tight joints with the casing and provided with laterally directed blades which extend into the steam chamber; expanding packing members carried by said blades and engaging the steam chamber walls with a packing lit, and inlet and exhaust ports tor said steam chambers.

9.. A rotary engine comprising a casing having an annular steam chamber: a rotor mounted in the casing and provided with laterally directed blades which extend into said annular steam chamber, said blades each having a straight tace substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor and an opposite oblique face, giving general triangular shape thereto, and inlet and exhaust ports for the steam chamber.

l0. A rotary engine comprising a casing having an annular steam chamber; a 'rot-or mounted in the casing and provided with laterally directed blades which extend into said annular steam chamber, said blades each having a straight tace substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor and an opposite oblique face, giving general triangular shape thereto; inlet and exhaust ports for the steam chamber, and expanding packing members carried by said blades for fluidtight joints with the walls of said steam chambers.

11. A rotary engine comprising a casing provided with an annular steam chamber; a rotorL therein mounted for substantially fluid-tight joints with the casing and provided with laterally directed blades which extend into the steam chamber; expanding packing members carried by said blades and engaging the steam chamber' walls with a packing tit; inlet and exhaust ports for said steam chambers at one side of the plane of the turning axis of the rotor, and supplemental inlet and exhaust ports for the steam chambers at the other side of said axis.

12. A rotary engine comprising a casing having an annular' steam chamber; a rotor mounted in the casing and provided with laterally directed blades which extend into said annular steam chamber, said blades each having a straight face substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, and an opposite oblique face giving general triangun lar shape thereto, and inlet and exhaust ports for the steam chamber, said blades being grooved on their radially inner and outer sides and at their endsand packing members inserted in said grooves.

13. ln a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having a steam chamber, with inlet and outlet ports, of a rotor in said casing having blades which extend into said steam chamber, and expanding packing members carried by said blades for fluidtight packing contact with the walls of said steam chamber.

14. A rotary engine comprising a casing having an annular steam chamber; a rotor mounted in the casing and provided with laterally directed blades which extend into said annular steam chamber, said blades each having a straight face substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, and an opposite oblique face giving general triangular shape thereto, and inlet and exhaust ports for the steam chamber, said blades being grooved at their radially inner and outer sides and at their ends; U-shaped resilient packing members seated in said grooves and springs acting on the arms of said packing members to press the same toward the end walls of the steam chambers.

15. In a rotary engine, a casing or cylinder provided with an annular steam chamber; a rotor therein provided with triangu lar shaped blades having straight faces parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor and opposed blique faces; an inlet port for the steam chamber arranged to direct motive fluid against the flat faces of the blades, and an exhaust port leading from said steam chamber.

16. A rotary engine comprising a casing formed with an annular steam chamber; a rotor therein provided with laterally directed blades which extend into the steam chamber, and inlet and outlet ports communicating with said steam chamber' on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the rotor, whereby the energy of the power medium may be directed simultaneously against the blades of the rotor at opposite sides of said axis of rotation.

17. A rotary engine comprising a casing provided with an annular steam chamber and with inlet and outlet port-s; a rotor rotatively mounted therein and provided with laterally directed blades having thickened bases to limit the steam area of the steam chamber.

18. A rotary engine comprising a casing provided with a steam chamber; a centrally recessed rotor mounted therein and provided with blades which extend into said chamber; inlet and exhaust ports leading respectively to and from said chamber; divided shafts having bearing in said casing, and a differential drive gear mechanism within the recess of the rotor for connecting said rotor to said divided shafts.

19. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder or casing; a recessed rotor therein; divided shaft members having bearing in the casing, and differential drive gear mechanism in the recess of the rotor and connecting said shafts and rotor.

20. A rotary engine comprising a' casing; a recessed rotor therein; inlet and-exhaust ports leading, respectively, to and from the casing; divided shaft elements having bean ing in the casing and provided within the casing with beveled gears, and idler beveled gears mounted in the recess of t-he rotor and meshing with the beveled gears of the divided shaft elements.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 24th day of May, 1916.

AUGUST E. MUELLER. Witnesses W. L. HALL, M. Gr. ADY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of atents, Washington, D.. C. 

